20. The Iron Giant (1999)
An adaptation of British poet Ted Hughes story The Iron Giant, Brad Bird once again creates a magical, evocative and grown up piece of animation that sadly seems to get overlooked. Set during the height of the Cold War, The Iron Giant is found and befriended by a boy named Hogarth who ultimately has to defend his newly found friend from the clutches of the government. Bird manages to find the perfect a balance between showcasing the enthusiasm and energy of young Hogarth but also of not being afraid to highlight the darker tones evoked through the film; its a mix that certainly allows both younger and older viewers to appreciate the films message. Too add further credit, the Iron Giant himself, voiced none other than Vin Diesel, is an endearing, emotive character full of personality and mannerisms that evoke the more human aspect. Its particularly impressive as if done incorrectly; the giant would simply be there rather than adding any substance to the narrative. At the time of its release The Iron Giant was a box office flop, the cause being a disastrous marketing campaign by Warner Bros. But over the years, the film has grown into a cult status and one that I hope in future is seen as one the greatest pieces of animation ever made.
19. Bambi (1942)
Bambi was a 1942 animated feature based on the Felix Salten book and followed the tale of a young fawn who over the course of the film experience pain, loss, love and ultimately redemption. Accompanied by friends Thumper and Flower, the film follows the extraordinary depiction of wildlife in the forest and how the intervention of man threatens their existence, with Bambi suffering horrific consequences as a result. The animation within the film is gloriously drawn, with the complications that arose with drawing Bambi clearly overcome, the movement being smooth and fluid and managing to eliminate any issues with the motion feeling jerky. The colour of the forest aswell as the switching of seasons provides Disney with a brilliant template to demonstrate their wide range of palettes, with everything feeling crisp, bright and vibrant. Bambi is synonymous with providing one of the more emotive pieces of animation before or since its release, with Bambis mother being shot off screen by a group of hunters. For Disney to do that in a childrens film at this time was inevitably controversial but it illustrated the realities of life in the forest for these animals. To tell a tale from this perspective, with humans acting as the aggressor left a bitter taste of morality. Bambi has regularly appeared as one the greatest animated films of all time and so it deserves to be. Portraying the grim realities of death while also providing a story of self improvement and encouragement, Bambi will always remain a classic Disney tale.
18. The Triplets of Belleville (2003)
The 2nd Sylvain Chomet film to feature on this list is a quirky, eccentric slightly surreal experience that focuses in on a grandmother coaching her son to become a champion cyclist. While it may not seem appealing to anyone other than cycling fans, the animation is a visual delight, featuring the rolling hills of France, 30s jazz halls to the claustrophobic street of the city, everything feels representative and drawn with care and precision. Possessing a charming quirkiness and feel that only the French seem to know how to create, the film evokes manic shifts of pace, from the gallic inspired tranquility to the manic road racing of The Tour De France. The film also includes a fantastic sense of humour and fun, Chomet seemingly aware of the endless possibilities that his fellow countrymen can offer. While the film isnt one that the youngest of eyes could appreciate, its chase sequences and undercurrents of darker territories will certainly appeal to most. The Triplets of Belleville is a richly detailed, surreal experience that takes its subject matter and transforms it with the use of animation. The film really feels like it is utilising what animation can offer exploiting the visual medium brilliantly to provide a bizarre tale that is truly one of a kind.
17. Shrek (2001)
Shrek, released in 2001, follows the tale of an ogre named Shrek, voiced by Mike Myers, who - after the evil Lord Farquaad decides to use his swamp as a place of exile for hundreds of fairytale characters - decides to embark on a quest to get his beloved swamp back. Along the way, he encounters Donkey (Eddie Murphy) and Princess Fiona (Cameron Diaz). The animation is sumptuous, with the fairytale land being glosses over with vivid, energetic colours. The film also features impressive chase sequences and action scenes that encapsulate the progression of animated technology from hand drawn to computer generated. Naturally classic characters from fairytales feature here too, from Little Red Riding Hood to Pinocchio to The Three Little Pigs, all of whom have been given personality instead of merely being thrown in purely to satisfy the fairytale conventions. The beauty of Shrek is that it harnesses its structure on classic fairytales but also subverts them at the same time, playing around with the conventions to find humour and expand upon the narrative. Shrek also exploits popular culture wonderfully, using these traits to forge another strand of humour that allows the film to feel appropriate and fresh. Add to that the heart of the film, the love story underneath, and Shrek is a superb piece of animation that will satisfy any viewer.
16. Monsters, Inc. (2001)
Monsters, Inc. released in 2001 was the 4th animated feature film by animation studio Pixar and followed the story of best friends Sulley and Mike who work for a company that gains energy for the city of Monstropolis by harnessing children's screams. Featuring Billy Crystal and John Goodman as the famous duo, the two find a perfect chemistry, finding humour and employing conversations and jokes that feel natural and unscripted. Its a refreshing bond. While the initial idea of a world focusing on monsters may seem too scary for children, Pixar finds the niche they found with Toy Story in finding the loving, caring side to the numerous personalities within the film, representing our reality brilliantly. Also having a small girl as the counterpart to a big, hairy monster is a stroke of genius, utilising the father/daughter strand well and containing the emotive heart of the film. Its animation continues the Pixar trend of impressively creating a world filled with movement and dimension, something computer generated animation has over the traditional hand drawn art. Its methods which originated with Toy Story can be seen once again to improve upon previous efforts by seamlessly including detail within Monstropolis as well as character detail and emotion. Monsters Inc is a timely reminder of a period of time where Pixar could do no wrong, where the boundaries of the medium felt limitless and the imagination explored places that were compelling. A beautifully poignant, emotive film that finds a glorious balance of humour, horror and love.